Source: European Parliament
The European Media Freedom Act (EMFA)[1] which entered into force on 7 May 2024 sets out safeguards for journalists and media service providers.
The EMFA will start to apply progressively as of November 2024. Most of the provisions of the EMFA will apply as of August 2025, including those related to public service media.
The Commission is in touch with authorities of Member States, including Slovakia, in order to discuss preparations for the implementation of the EMFA at national level.
As guardian of the Treaties, the Commission will monitor the application of the EMFA. The Commission makes full use of the tools available to it under the Treaties to ensure compliance with EU law, including launching infringement proceedings against relevant Member States.
Meanwhile, prior to the start of application of the new rules, Member States are bound by a duty of sincere cooperation, in line with Article 4(3) of the Treaty on European Union[2].
Finally, regarding the situation of media freedom and pluralism in Slovakia, the Commission notes, in its 2024 Rule of Law Report[3], that ‘there has been no progress to enhance the autonomy of public service media as the new Act regulating public service media dissolved the current broadcaster and established a new entity leading to concerns on the future independence of the broadcaster’.
On this basis, the Commission recommended Slovakia to ‘strengthen the rules and mechanisms to restore and further safeguard the independent governance and editorial independence of public service media taking into account European standards on public service media’.